Spring 2011:                                    

To Die For

In almost any form chocolate appeals to our senses: Oreo cookies, truffles, ice cream, cocoa puffs, cake, donuts, brownies, Hershey bars, strawberries dipped in chocolate, hot chocolate . . . .Taste, texture, aroma all have an appeal – some say addictive power. 

In medicine, chocolate has been widely used for centuries. It is good for you. Phenethylamine (PEA) stimulates the nervous system. Dopamine has an association with sexual arousal and pleasure. Chocolate also contains two methylyanthines: caffeine and theobromine. It is rich in antioxidents that are good for your heart and performs some anti-clotting activity similar to aspirin. Even if you are not “cured,” you feel better. It also increases the brain levels of serotonin.

Without its medical benefits, we would eat it anyway. After all, Harry Potter eats chocolate to ward off the debilitating impact of the Death Eaters.

Colonial mothers knew full well that using chocolate in pills or in liquids could entice children to take medicine that would, otherwise, be shunned. Besides ale, coffee, tea (until we stopped importing it in protest) and chocolate were popular drinks in the taverns. Today the love of chocolate which Cortez discovered 2000 years ago and brought back to Spain (thank the next Mayan that you meet) has become a $13 billion dollar a year industry. On average Americans consume 11 ½ pounds of chocolate every year (the Swiss consume 20 pounds).

We may not be healthier as a result, but for many, chocolate is a modern elixir used to refresh, to restore and to energize.

     (Colonial Chocolate Pot)

  Enjoy.

 Lt Richard Kennedy, “Surgeon”

If you'd like to learn more please contact the Pawtuxet Rangers by phone at 785-1774 or by email.